The fourth and largest of Giles’ nine Myth of Malham type offshore racing yachts, at 55’ Gulvain was in 1949 the largest British offshore racing yacht to be built since the end of the Second World War. Her novelty aluminium hull, with full reverse sheer, reverse transom counter and sweeter bow overhang represented the logical development of the remarkable cluster which began in 1947 with Myth of Malham and culminated three years later with the diminutive Sopranino
She too was considered one of the most advanced experiments in yacht design and included many innovative developments in gear: Rod rigging, and the aluminium mast was extruded in three lengths and riveted together. Halyards were internal and another novel experiment was the use of tufnol (tough phenol – a synthetic resin bonded paper) . She was built in less than six months, launched just in time for the Dinard race, which she won easily, gaining the accolade of being without doubt one the fastest ocean racers to have been built. Much use was made of veneered plywood in her outfit however she had a teak laid deck and cast iron, rather than lead keel

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About Laurent Giles

The design practice developed 'between the First and Second World Wars' and 'post war' years into a thriving racing and cruisung yacht design house, specialising in sound design and engineering solutions to challenging client briefs.

At a time when the business of racing and cruising yacht design was developing... and throughout this important period the Laurent Giles design practice is recognised as being among the leaders, if not the leader in the development and use of new yacht design and construction technologies. Between 1939 and 45 he was first in charge of the Small Boats (up to 100ft) Design Section of the Department of Naval Construction, and later he served in Washington D.C. on aircraft construction.